One person was killed in an explosion of a gas cylinder while refueling a microbus at a CNG and refueling station in Dhamrai, Dhaka.
The deceased has been identified as Faruk Hossain, 50, the driver of the vehicle.
The incident took place at around 11:30am. on Friday at NN CNG and Refueling Station along the Dhaka-Aricha Highway. Another private car behind the microbus was damaged in the explosion.
Witnesses said that Faruk Hossain had driven the vehicle himself to the refueling station for CNG. As the station worker connected the gas line to the vehicle’s cylinder, Faruk stood behind the vehicle. At that moment, the cylinder exploded, and Faruk was fatally injured, dying on the spot.
Shahnewaz Mahmud, the son-in-law of the deceased, said: “Around 11:30am, my father-in-law passed away due to the cylinder explosion. We are currently in a state of shock and will provide further details later.”
Dhamrai police station Sub-Inspector (SI) Nasir Hossain said that the vehicle’s cylinder exploded while refueling, causing the driver’s death at the scene.
Preliminary findings suggest that Faruk had recently converted his vehicle’s LPG cylinder into a CNG cylinder, and the explosion occurred due to excessive pressure during refueling, he added.
Dhamrai police station Inspector (Investigation) Md Mokhlesur Rahman said the body had been recovered, and the family has been informed. Further legal actions will be taken based on their complaint.
On Monday, at least three people were killed and 20 others were injured in a gas cylinder explosion on a bus in Lakshmipur Sadar Upazila.
Although experts advise against the unscientific modification of vehicles to prevent such explosions, there is no active monitoring of this issue.
Experts’ take on vehicle gas cylinders
Dr Md Shamsul Hoque, a professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, stated that gas cylinders are essentially "active explosives."
Shamsul Hoque criticized vehicle owners for their neglect in ensuring the safety of gas cylinders. He said: “Transportation owners prioritize profit over safety, using low-quality cylinders. These cylinders need to be tested every seven months, but owners often avoid this responsibility. There’s also no regulatory body to enforce regular testing.”
He added: “Drivers, passengers, and CNG refueling stations are generally unconcerned about the risks. Strict rules and regulations must be imposed to assess and mitigate the dangers associated with gas cylinders.”
